'Jacks Claw 'Kats in Game 1

Friday, April 30

Nacogdoches, TX

6:30 PM

Stephen F. Austin

14-23, 11-14

Sam Houston

19-17, 15-10

Sam Houston

Stephen F. Austin

5/1/2021 6:29:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- The Lumberjack baseball team was seeking a notable triumph after dropping last week's SLC series at Central Arkansas, and the 'Jacks did just that, defeating Sam Houston (19-17, 15-10 SLC) in Game 1 of the four-game series, 6-3. The Bearkats are currently the No. 3 team in the league.

SFA moves to 14-23, 11-14 in conference play heading in to Game 2 today at noon.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lumberjacks established an early lead in the first inning by leadoff batter Cameron Crawford making his way around the bases due to being hit by a pitch plus advancing on a wild pitch shortly after, soon to be brought in by Skylar Black (LF, SF, RBI) for a 1-0 advantage over the Bearkats.

In the second, the 'Jacks were able to keep the sizzling offense alive scoring three runs, teed up by a sequence of Clayton Loranger (1B LF), Chaney Dodge (FC, SB), Jake Zarrello (1B MI, RBI), topped off by Crawford's home run to left field which also cleared Zarrello.

Thus far, SFA held two Bearkat runners on base in the first, and Joe Sgambelluri (W, 3-3) collected a three up, three down stanza.

The 'Jacks extended the lead to 5-0 thanks to another offensive contribution from Zarrello (2B RC) and Crawford (1B MI), who also advanced on the throw for another RBI, which gave Zarrello the nod to home plate once again.

'The Kats didn't put a tally up on the board until the sixth inning, where the 'Jacks tallied its sixth in the bottom of the fifth after Zarrello flied out to left field to charge Jordan Monacy (1B MI, E8). Between the fifth and the sixth, SHSU utilized a pair of new pitchers.

Sgambelluri completed six innings of work on the outing, featuring nine K's, two hits, one run on 108 total pitches, replaced by Austin Roth in T-7 and Harrison Lee filliing in in the eighth.

SHSU caught fire in the eighth inning to make things interesting late in the ballgame, where the 'Kats connected on four hits for two runs to make it 6-3 heading into B-7. SFA held the visitors to only two hits and four left on base in the final two frames though, allowing the 'Jacks to grab the first win of the series.